Cape Town — Several members of the African National Congress (ANC) has their salaries docked for failing to declare their 2023 financial interests on time.
A total of 11 members found themselves in hot water with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests after they failed to meet last year’s deadline of 30 September. The chairperson of the ethics committee, Bheki Nkosi, confirmed that the MPs were reprimanded and had their salaries docked, The Citizen reported.
“What the committee decided was that failure to meet the deadline was a serious transgression after members were constantly reminded, so we are allowed by the code of ethics to fine them accordingly. In respect of one person its one-month salary,” he said.
The highest sanction the committee could give was docking 30 days’ pay but it appears that only one MP received the maximum punishment. The rest were docked below 30 days.
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According to IOL, some of the names on the list included Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, ANC Women’s League president, Nokuzola Tolashe, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Judith Tshabalala, and ANC Youth League president, Collen Malatji.
Phumeza Mpushe, Xolani Nkuleko Msimango, Xola Nqola, Itumeleng Ntsube, Mohatla Alfred Tseki, and Audrey Sbongile Zuma were the others to be penalised.
They blamed procrastination, family emergency, phone problems and technology issues for their failure to meet the deadline. Acting parliament speaker, Lesecha Tsenoli, said the reprimand was aimed at ensuring discipline was meted out fairly, transparently and consistently.
“You members failed to disclose your financial interests for 2023 in due time. It is apparent you were provided fair opportunity and not having adequately explained your failure, your actions have potential to erode public trust in Parliament. This is unacceptable and deserving of serious consequences,” he said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
